Summer woodland survey Mt Ainslie East

[Michael Lenz <>]

Michael Lenz conducted the survey of the lower eastern slopes of Mt Ainslie on 3 Dec 2019. Conditions were not ideal with variable winds, mostly strong, but also with periods of light to moderate wind. The area is very dry, overgrazed and has many patches of bare soil. Small numbers of rabbits present at most sites. Some Yellow Boxes were flowering. But surprisingly, bird activity was much higher than during the spring survey. 43 species were recorded in total (30 at the 9 sites, 15 additional ones between sites). The most widespread species were Noisy Miner (7 sites), Crimson Rosella, Noisy Friarbird (6 sites) and Rufous Whistler (4 sites).

Of note were: Common Bronzewing (4x , incl. 2 displaying ♂♂); Speckled Warbler (2x); Brown-headed Honeyeater (2x; 1 adult without tail feathers); Dusky Woodswallow (2 pairs, one of those with 4 fledglings, the highest number of young I have seen for this species); 4 to 6 pairs of White-browed Woodswallow, apart from 2 ♂♂ displaying, no other obvious indications of possible breeding, birds also seemed to move around far more than breeding birds would do, hence the uncertainty about total numbers); Mistletoebird (3x), Western (2x) and White-throated Gerygone (6x); White-winged Triller (4x); 5 Tree Martins; 1 brown ♂ Red-capped Robin. White-winged Choughs with 1 young in nest; 1 Australian Raven with recent fledgling.

Michael Lenz